MLB Awards Watch: May 24 Edition

MLB Awards Watch: May 24 Edition

Things will most likely change as the year progresses, but all of these players and coaches would be deserving of their respective award if the season ended on May 24.

AL Rookie of the Year: Masahiro Tanaka, SP, New York Yankees

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AL Rookie of the Year: Masahiro Tanaka, SP, New York Yankees

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2014 Stat Line: Record 6-1, ERA 2.39, SO 73, WHIP 0.97

Tanaka has been all as advertised for the Yankees so far this season. He started 6-0 before the Cubs gave him his first loss last week. Tanaka joined only Stephen Strasburg as the only players since 1900 to record at least eight strikeouts in their first three MLB starts.

2nd Place: Jose Abreu, OF, Chicago White Sox

NL Rookie of the Year: Billy Hamilton, OF, Cincinnati Reds

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NL Rookie of the Year: Billy Hamilton, OF, Cincinnati Reds

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2014 Stat Line: Avg .252, HR 1, R 20, RBI 8 & SB 18

Hamilton started off slow, but is hitting .315 in the month of May. He looks to be the speed on the diamond the Reds have missed as he's second in MLB with 18 stolen bases.

2nd Place: Chris Owings, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

AL Comeback Player of the Year: Scott Kazmir, SP, Oakland Athletics

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AL Comeback Player of the Year: Scott Kazmir, SP, Oakland Athletics

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2014 Stat Line: Record 5-2, ERA 2.56, SO 45, WHIP 1.01

Kazmir has delt with injury after injury over his career, but has followed up a good season last year with the Indians with an outstanding start to his 2014 campaign. He ranks in the top six of the AL in ERA and WHIP.

K-Rod was unbelievable for the Angels from 2005-08 (194 saves). He led the league in saves three of those four years and set the single-season MLB record with 62 in 2008. K-Rod then had his struggles with the Mets, but looks to have regained his form with the Brewers.

2nd Place: Justin Morneau, 1B, Colorado Rockies

AL Breakout Player: Michael Brantley, OF, Cleveland Indians

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AL Breakout Player: Michael Brantley, OF, Cleveland Indians

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2014 Stat Line: Avg .303, HR 9, R 30, RBI 38 & SB 7

Brantley hit six and 10 home runs respectively the past two seasons and has already knocked nine out this year. He's on pace for career highs in every major offensive category and currently leads the Indians in average, hits (56), home runs, RBI and OBP (.372).

2nd Place: Sonny Gray, SP, Oakland Athletics

NL Breakout Player: Charlie Blackmon, OF, Colorado Rockies

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NL Breakout Player: Charlie Blackmon, OF, Colorado Rockies

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2014 Stat Line: Avg .322, HR 9, R 35, RBI 32 & SB 9

The 27-year-old Blackmon was looked at as a backup heading into the season, but his blistering start has continued as the quarter mark arrives. Blackmon hit nine total homers the past three years and already has matched that this season. His 57 hits ranks sixth in all of MLB.

2nd Place: Seth Smith, OF, San Diego Padres

AL Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics

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AL Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics

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Record: 30-19, 3rd best in MLB

Melvin is doing it again this year. After losing starters A.J. Griffin and Jarrod Parker for the season, he's put together another rotation that's defying the odds. He leads a group of guys who lack star recognition to a level that's at the top of the league.

2nd Place: John Gibbons, Toronto Blue Jays

NL Manager of the Year: Ron Roenicke, Milwaukee Brewers

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NL Manager of the Year: Ron Roenicke, Milwaukee Brewers

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Record: 29-20, 4th best in MLB

Roenicke has done a fantastic job with the Brew Crew this year. Their biggest question mark going into the season was their rotation and it currently ranks first in quality starts and seventh in ERA in MLB.

2nd Place: Bruce Bochy, San Francisco Giants

AL CY Young: Mark Buehrle, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

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AL CY Young: Mark Buehrle, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

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2014 Stat Line: Record 8-1, ERA 2.16, SO 40, WHIP 1.22

The former ace of the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox is having his best season since that year. He currently leads MLB in wins and is on pace for career highs in each major pitching category.

2nd Place: Masahiro Tanaka, SP, New York Yankees

NL CY Young: Johnny Cueto, SP, Cincinnati Reds

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NL CY Young: Johnny Cueto, SP, Cincinnati Reds

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2014 Stat Line: Record 4-3, ERA 1.86, SO 82, WHIP 0.74

Cueto has been the best pitcher in MLB this season. He's averaging almost eight innings per start (7.71) and has given up two or less earned runs in nine of his 10 starts with three complete games and two shutouts. He ranks in the top three in the league in ERA, WHIP, SO and innings pitched. His record doesn't reflect his performance.

2nd Place: Adam Wainwright, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

AL MVP: Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

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AL MVP: Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

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2014 Stat Line: Avg .297, HR 12, R 37 & RBI 32

Bautista is having his best overall season of his career so far. He currently ranks first in the AL in OPS (.843) and walks (42), while in the top nine in runs, RBI and WAR (2.4).

2nd Place: Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers

NL MVP: Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies

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NL MVP: Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies

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2014 Stat Line: Avg .378, HR 14, R 45 & RBI 36

Tulo has dealt with his fair share of injuries over his career, but looks to have put everything together this season. He currently leads MLB in average, runs, OPS (1.200) and WAR (4.5). He also ranks in the top 10 in home runs, RBI and hits (59).